BJP objects to Cong referring Modi as `Feku`

BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday objected to the use of word `feku` by Congress leaders and ministers in reference to Narendra Modi, which Congress leader Ajay Maken defended saying that the word was used to convey to people that the person was giving wrong facts.

New Delhi: BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday objected to the use of word `feku` by Congress leaders and ministers in reference to Narendra Modi, which Congress leader Ajay Maken defended saying that the word was used to convey to people that the person was giving wrong facts.

Maken, who along with Prasad was participating in a discussion organised by a news channel, also expressed confidence that despite the predictions of various exit polls, Congress under Sheila Dikshit would retain power in Delhi.

During the discussion, Prasad said that while Congress had a right to criticise Modi, the way the party including its ministers attacked him with the word `Feku` reflected a "pathological hatred" which went beyond what could be seen as a difference of opinion.

"The word feku, not just your leaders but your ministers are also using such words," Prasad said. Referring to Information and Broadcasting minister Manish Tewari, Prasad said that a Central minister had begun finding Hitler even at an event like the International Film Festival in Goa.

Maken, however, defended the use of the word. "If we want to say through one word that the a person is giving wrong facts and figures, he is faking facts and as they say `phenk` (boasting) in Hindi. Feku is a combination of fake and `phenk`," he said.

To an observation by the moderator, Prasad defended Modi for referring to Sonia`s health in one of his speeches and said that he had never mocked her illness but only said that since Rahul Gandhi is the Vice President of the Congress, responsibility should be given to him so that the country can witness his ability.

During the course of the discussion, Maken said though he wanted to follow BJP leaders like Sushma Swaraj or Ravi Shankar Prasad on twitter but could not do so as it would be literally misconstrued that he is following them.